Amid drizzling rain, distinguished guests arrived for a fruitful exchange by the shores of Taihu Lake, focusing on high-nickel material technologies. On June 8, 2026, Mr. Chen Kai, Chairman of Azure, and his delegation paid a visit to GEM’s Wuxi Industrial Park. Professor Xu Kaihua, Chairman of GEM, together with Ms. Wang Min, Joint Controller and Director of GEM, extended a warm welcome and accompanied the guests on factory tours and in-depth discussions.The two sides conducted in-depth deliberations on the development of new-generation high-specific-energy and high-power high-nickel ternary cathode materials as well as cooperation models. Committed to forging a powerful alliance and building profound mutual trust, both parties officially kicked off a new chapter of industrial chain cooperation focusing on high-rate & high-specific-energy cylindrical cells.

▲The core management team of GEM gave a warm welcome to Mr. Chen Kai, Chairman of Azure, and his delegation during their visit to GEM Wuxi Industrial Park

Bond Friendship, Explore Vibrant Circular Industry

Accompanied and briefed in person by Chairman Xu Kaihua, Chairman Chen Kai and his delegation visited GEM Wuxi Carbon Peaking and Carbon Neutrality Museum. They gained in-depth insights into GEM’s green development journey, ranging from the exploitation of urban mines to the core manufacturing of new energy materials, and witnessed the historic transition of human society from the fossil fuel era to the new energy era.Chairman Xu Kaihua elaborated on GEM’s circular industrial chain layout centered on cobalt, nickel, lithium and tungsten resources. He also made a remote connection to QMB Indonesia and IGIP Industrial Park, vividly demonstrating the operation of GEM’s world-leading overseas industrial bases for nickel resources and new energy industry.

▲Chairman Chen Kai and his delegation visited GEM's Carbon Peaking and Carbon Neutrality Museum

Chairman Chen Kai then visited GEM’s New Energy Materials Research Institute and the new production line for high-nickel cathode materials. He conducted an on-site inspection of the frontline R&D platforms for a full range of advanced material systems, including high-nickel, ultra-high-nickel, high-voltage, lithium-rich manganese-based and sodium-ion battery cathode materials. He also toured the three-tier R&D system covering lab trial, pilot scale-up and industrialization, and spoke highly of GEM’s robust innovation capabilities in developing cutting-edge new energy materials and accelerating their commercialization.

At the new high-nickel ternary cathode material production line, Professor Xu Kaihua introduced that the facility will focus on the large-scale production of Ni90 and higher grade high-nickel cathode materials. The products are designed to meet the demand for high-power batteries in future application scenarios such as AI data centers, humanoid robots and low-altitude aircraft, and will fully guarantee the material supply for Azure’s high-rate & high-specific-energy lithium-ion cylindrical cells.

At the Jiangsu Engineering Research Center for Lithium-ion Battery Cathode Materials, Chairman Xu Kaihua demonstrated the physical and chemical performance tests on coin cells and pouch cells fabricated with GEM’s cathode materials. He noted that all qualified products will be delivered steadily to leading lithium battery enterprises including Azure at home and abroad, supplying premium raw materials for the global new energy industry.

▲Chairman Chen Kai and his delegation visited GEM’s New Energy Materials Research Institute

▲Chairman Chen Kai and his delegation visited the Tianpeng Power Dedicated Production Line for high-specific-energy cathode materials at GEM Wuxi Industrial Park

Strong Alliance, Build a New Industrial Cooperation Blueprint

The in-depth strategic discussion was held between the teams led by Chairman Xu Kaihua and Chairman Chen Kai during the forum.Chairman Xu extended sincere gratitude to Chairman Chen Kai for his visit and efforts to advance bilateral cooperation, describing this as crucial support at a pivotal moment. He noted that Azure, under the leadership of Chairman Chen Kai, has stood firmly alongside GEM for a decade. The two companies have forged profound friendship and mutual trust, weathered the industry downturn together and now march toward new growth opportunities. Fully confident in Azure’s prospects, GEM will leverage its global nickel industrial chain and innovative cathode material system to fully support Azure’s new round of global expansion, helping it seize market opportunities and take the lead in the AI sector.Chairman Chen Kai thanked GEM for its long-term strong support. He spoke highly of GEM’s layout in high-specific-energy cathode materials and its complete full life cycle value chain covering battery recycling, raw material reproduction, material remanufacturing and battery reuse. He pointed out that the advent of the AI era will drive surging demand for high-specific-energy batteries. With continuous performance breakthroughs for cylindrical cells, market prospects remain robust and the cooperation between the two sides is promising.Chairman Chen put forward the strategic plans and timelines for cooperation in high-voltage & high-specific-energy ternary materials, voicing high expectations for GEM. He emphasized that the two companies share deep ties and close collaboration. Connected by high-rate ternary materials, both sides will jointly drive high-specific-energy cylindrical cells to compete on the global stage.

▲GEM–Azure Symposium and Exchange Meeting

This exchange further deepened mutual trust and consensus between the two sides, and clarified the scope and depth of future strategic cooperation in cathode materials, overseas projects and other areas. The two parties will combine strengths to sharpen competitiveness, jointly respond to global industry challenges, and work together to foster a low-carbon future.

Present at the reception were Zang Chengjie, Head of R&D Materials Group at Azure, and Yin Jun, Head of Supply Chain Management at Azure; Mr. Zhou Bo (Director & Executive Deputy General Manager), Mr. Pan Hua (Director, Senior Deputy General Manager & Board Secretary), Dr. Chen Yujun (Deputy General Manager) and Dr. Ma Yongsong (Assistant General Manager) of GEM, among other senior executives.